patentlybored wrote:1. As a resume builder for law school application - to show ambition, and an honest interest in the area2. For fun, because I'm interested in patent law (might come in handy if one of my engineering buddies comes up with an invention)3. If law school doesn't work out, I might look into being a patent agent

1. It won't really help for law school. The engineering WE/degree will let them know you're thinking patent law. The passing of the patent bar isn't really seen as a difficult step in the process.

I'd put it on hold and study for the LSAT, just to get it under your belt. The Patent bar will have a negligible effect on your law school application (i.e. I wouldn't expect it to have any effect), but the LSAT will control where you end up going. Focus on that.

Then, if you end up not going to law school, you can easily pass the patent bar for other reasons.

It's helpful if you want to work in patent prosecution - practicing in front of the PTO. If you want to work in litigation - for/against infringement and invalidity, it isn't very useful. Having past the patent bar helps you land prosecution jobs, so if that's what you want to do, then go for it. You can also try to work as an examiner anyway before law school, that's also good. Practicing patent law in the federal courts is pretty much like practicing any other kind of law, only the authorities are more specialized. So patent litigation is much different than practicing "patent law" in front of the PTO.